The first human death from bird flu in the U.S. has been reported, raising concerns about the potential for wider spread. The victim, an individual over 65 with underlying medical conditions, had contact with sick and dead birds. Genetic analysis suggests the virus mutated within the patient, leading to a more severe illness.
Health officials said the first death was in a person older than 65 who had underlying medical problems and had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. Health officials have said the person was older than 65, had underlying medical problems and had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. They also said a genetic analysis had suggested the bird flu virus had mutated inside the patient, which could have led to the more severe illness.
CDC officials said that bird flu is still mainly an animal health issue and that the risk to the general public remains low. There has been no documented spread of the virus from person to person, said the CDC's Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.to the bird flu virus, or Type A H5N1. Even before the cattle outbreak, there were feline cases linked to wild birds or poultry. Since March, dozens of cats have caught the virus.
Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease researcher, likened this binding interaction to a lock and key. To enter a cell, the virus needs to have a key that turns the lock, and this finding means the virus may be changing to have a key that might work. Still, Osterholm said, scientists should continue to follow what’s happening with mutations carefully.
Bird Flu H5N1 Virus Mutation Human Death
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